Scammers posing as police stole £10,000 from a Cheltenham pensioner, targeting older residents in Gloucestershire.
They call people and pretend to be police officers or bank employees. They’ve targeted people across several towns, including Moreton-in-Marsh, Cirencester, Gloucester, and Cheltenham. They claim someone used bank cards illegally or they found fraud on accounts.
Some people were told to mail cards to the bank, but these addresses were not actual bank locations. One man from Cheltenham, aged 80+, got a scam call where the caller mimicked his bank.
The caller said his account got hacked and advised him to move his money to another account for safety. The man unfortunately gave the scammers £10,000.
These scammers fool people easily. Often, they tell victims to keep it secret, saying, “Don’t tell your family about this.” Police warn people to be careful and talk to your older relatives about these scams.
If you think it’s a scam, hang up right away and use another phone to call Action Fraud or the real police. Scammers can stay on the phone line, acting like the police if you call back on the same line. If you lack a different phone, wait ten minutes, then call family or a friend first to ensure the scammer is really gone.
Police or banks won’t ask you to take out money, buy things, or ask for your personal details. Knowing your address doesn’t make them a bank or cop. Question strange calls and report them to Action Fraud or the police.